Does modern medicine increase life-expectancy: Quest for the Moon Rabbit?

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Preventive Medicine
• Public Health

Background:

• Interventions for longevity, including percutaneous coronary interventions and coronary artery bypass grafting, show minimal life-prolonging benefits, primarily in critically ill patients.
• Cardiac medications such as statins and aspirin offer moderate benefits for patients with established coronary artery disease, but their role in primary prevention is limited.

Discussion:

• The effectiveness of invasive cardiac procedures and medications in significantly extending lifespan is questionable.
• Current evidence suggests that lifestyle modifications are the most effective strategies for primary and primordial prevention of cardiovascular disease.

Key Insights:

• Percutaneous coronary interventions and coronary artery bypass grafting provide meager survival benefits, mainly for very sick individuals.
• Statins and aspirin are beneficial for manifest coronary artery disease but have low efficacy in primary prevention.
• Healthy lifestyle choices, including smoking cessation, weight management, physical activity, a balanced diet, and control of hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and hyperglycemia, are paramount for longevity.

Outlook:

• Future research should focus on optimizing lifestyle interventions for broad population impact.
• Further investigation into the precise mechanisms and long-term outcomes of current cardiac interventions is warranted.
• Integrating comprehensive lifestyle modification programs into public health strategies is crucial for enhancing population health and longevity.